By Mike Hazlip—
While prices continue to rise for various products and services nationwide, one price that won’t be going up this year is water rates for most Citrus Heights residents, according to local water officials.
Representatives of Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD) were on hand Tuesday night to outline the district’s current projects and future plans during a neighborhood association meeting for Citrus Heights Area Seven Eight and Nine.
Susan Talwar, the water district’s director of finances and administrative services, told the neighborhood group that customers serviced by the district will not see a rate increase this year, despite a wholesale rate increase by San Juan Water District, which supplies CHWD with water. She said the district already operates on a lean budget, yet was able to absorb about $200,000 in increased costs due to the wholesale rate increase.
“We were able to come together, reevaluate our financial model and absorb those costs without any disruption to our customers,” Talwar said.
The district’s decision to not raise rates is in marked contrast to the annual rate increases users saw in recent years, up until the pandemic hit last year.
Talwar also said 70% of the district’s water mains will need to be replaced in the coming decades. She highlighted the district’s Project 2030 Water Main Replacement Study that aims to replace water mains by 2080. She said the district will be working with the city to make improvements during construction projects already slated to begin in the coming years in an effort to minimize the impact to residents.
As reported by The Sentinel in 2019, the projected cost of replacing the majority of the 200-plus miles of water mains that were installed in the 1960s to 1980s is expected to be $390 million. A recommendation from the district’s Customer Advisory Committee at the time proposed adding a new 5.5% surcharge to water bills to help cover costs associated with the project. The water district’s board is expected to consider the committee’s recommendation later this year.
Talwar’s presentation also outlined the need to tap into more ground water sources as the water line at surface reservoirs like Folsom Lake continue to drop. The lake is currently at 26% of total capacity, according to data from California Department of Water Resources. Historically, Folsom Lake averages 35% of total capacity in late summer.
A video shown during the presentation shows a total of 39% of CHWD’s budget is allocated for operational costs. These costs are split between purchased water from San Juan Water District at 16% of the total budget, and operations and maintenance at 23%. The remainder of the budget is earmarked for capital improvement programs at 35%, and staffing resources at 26%.
Residents in the city of Citrus Heights are served by one of three water districts. In addition to Citrus Heights Water District, Cal American Water Company and Sacramento Suburban Water District provide water to customers in the city, depending on the specific area of the city.
